Process for the production of warp knitted plush fabrics



Dec. 24, 1963 w. MOSIG ETAL 3,115,023

PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WARP KNITTED PLUSH FABRICS s Sheets-Sheet1- Filed June 15, 1959 Dec. 24, 1963 w. MOSlG ETAL PROCESS FOR THEPRODUCTION OF WARP KNITTED PLUSH FABRICS Filed June 15, 1959 25 3;? 2/ Q24 N. m I 9 I I /4 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS M44 Y Mas/a 07-7-0 MEISEZ/IHL K/xws Say/44mm; Wen/v5? AW Dec. 24, 1963 w. MOSIG ETAL 3,115,023

PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WARP KNITTED PLUSH FABRICS 3 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed June 15, 1959 INVENTORS ML 1. Y Ma $16 0770 ME/SEZflA L #AA/sSaw/LUNG WERNER Aa/msl? United States Patent 3,115,023 PROCESS FOR THEPRODUCTION OF WARP KNITTED PLUSH FABRICS Willy Mosig, Otto Meisezahl,Hans Schilling, and Werner Kohler, all of Apolda, Germany, assignors toVEB Werkmaschinenbau Apolda, Ap'olda, Germany Filed June 15, 1959, Ser.No. 820,192 9 Claims. (Cl. 66-84) This invention relates in general toknitting machines and particularly to a new and useful machine andmethod for producing single and double plush wherein the plush threadsare brought with their reversing points surrounding the knitting needlesto the loops of the previously formed foundation row hanging on theknitting needles and thereafter cast off together with these loops overthe foundation loops of the following row.

It has been known for a long time to produce plush on warp knittingmachines, particularly on so-called Raschel or double rib looms. Thesemachines produce not only looped plush, but also double plush, so-calledcut plush. T ese materials are generally so produced that the plushthreads for the formation of a new row are laid together with thefoundation material over the knitting needles, after which the loops ofthe previously formed foundation row, which hang on the knittingneedles, are cast off over these new layers. This way the plush threadsform loops with the foundation threads and thus tend to adhere to thebottom of the material. Such plush goods can therefore only be used forcertain purposes, but they are not suitable as floor coverings, forexample, because floor covering plush threads must stand perpendicularlyto the foundation.

It is also known to tie in the plush threads as wefts into thefoundation. But this results only in an unsatisfactory material, becausethe knitting needles do not participate at all in the securing of theplush threads. The lengths of the loops formed on the knitting needlescannot be properly controlled, so that goods with uneven plush loopswould result. In particular, the insertion of the wefts cannot be usedin the production of double plush. A prerequisite for the insertion ofwefts is that the plush threads are inserted into the upper and rearthread guide devices, respectively. Two devices would thus have to beprovided for the production of double plush, arranged on the outside ofthe two thread guide devices for the foundation threads, which ispractically impossible.

'In plush goods where the plush threads form loops there is also anundesired high consumption of plush threads.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages andprovides a construction in which the plush threads are guided with theirreversing points surrounding the knitting needles to the loops of thepreviously formed foundation row hanging on the knitting needles, andare cast olf together with these loops over the foundation loops of thefollowing row.

This process can be carried out in two ways. One consists in that theplush threads are laid over the reciprocable knitting needles togetherwith the foundation material to form a new row, and they are brought,before they are cast off, separately to the loops of the previouslyformed foundation row which hang on the knitting needles. The second wayis to put them together with the foundation material over the knittingneedles to form a new row, but so low that they arrive at the loops ofthe foundation row hanging on the knitting needles.

The warp knitting machine used for carrying out the above describedprocesses, particularly the double rib loom (Raschel), is characterizedeither by means moving parallel to the longitudinal axis of the knittingneedles to displace the plush threads in the direction toward the loopsof the previously formed foundation hanging on the 'knitting needles, orby guide means for the plush threads, which lay them directly over theloops of the previously formed foundation hanging on the knittingneedles.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to pro vide a process forproducing plush on a knitting machine comprising laying the plushthreads together with the foundation material over the knitting needleswhen they are in a high position to form a new row, and bringing thelooped threads, before they are cast off the knitting needles, to thepreviously formed foundation row, and then the looped threads togetherwith the foundation row are cast off.

A further object of the invention is to provide a process for producingplush by placing the plush threads together with the foundation materialover the knitting needles to form a new row, but directing the plushthreads to the row low enough so that they arrive at the loops of thefoundation row hanging on the knitting needles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved warpknit-ting machine including means moving parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the knitting needles to displace the plush threads in thedirection toward the loops of the previously formed foundation hangingon the knitting needles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a warp knitting machineincluding thread guide means for the plush threads which lay the threadsdirectly over the loops of the previously formed foundation hanging onthe knitting needles.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects obtained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated and described preferredembodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are fragmentary elevational views partly in sectionshowing two operational positions of a knitting mechanism in theproduction of a simple looped plush;

FIGS. 3 to 6 are fragmentary elevational views partly in section ofanother embodiment of the invention indicating a knitting mechanism invarious operational positions in the production of a double or cutplush;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the driving mechanism for theknitting tools indicated in FIGS. 3 to 6;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary elevations partly in section of anotherembodiment of the invention employing special thread guides for theplush threads;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the thread guides indicatedin FIGS. 8 and 9; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are fragmentary elevations partly in section of anotherembodiment of the invention indicating a knitting mechanism in thevarious stages of operation.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, vertically reciprocable bars 1, standingalong the machine frame and having knitting needles 2, are provided.These are pivoted latch needles, the latches being shown at 2a, but theycan naturally also be hook needles or slide needles. Opposite each ofthese knitting needle bars 1 is arranged a vertically reciprocable bar 3with simple pointed needles 4 which act as plush-thread looping means,as will be eX- plained hereunder.

Only the bars 1 have knitting needles such as 2, the bars 3 havingsimple straight pointed needles 4 which 3 do not function to effect astitch formation but serve only to hold the last thread in order to formthe head of a loop. The distance at which bars 1 and 3 are spaced isvariable so that the length of the plush loops is changeable.

The knitting needles 2 produce the foundation that is laid by means ofthreads 5 acted upon by a guide bar 6. This bar 6 is the rear bar, or inmachines with horizontal knitting needles, the upper bar and can also betermed foundation-thread guiding means. A front or lower guide bar 7guides the plush threads 8 and may thus be termed plush-thread guidingmeans. Between the two bars 6 and 7 is arranged a conventional strikingor presser plate 9. For the formation of a new row the foundationthreads 5 and the plush threads 8 are laid together over the knittingneedles 2. These knitting needles 2 and the pointed needles 4 are thenin the upper position, as shown. The threads 5, 8 lie over the latches2a of the knitting needles 2 (FIG. 1). The plush threads 8 are thenwrapped around the needles 4 in order to form the plush loops.

Hereafter, the presser plate 9 is lowered, as shown in FIG. 2. This waythe plush threads 8 are brought to the loops 10 of the previously formedfoundation row, hanging on the knitting needles 2. When this is done,loops 10 are cast olf, together with the respective reversing points orroots of the plush threads 8, over the loops of the newly laidfoundation threads 5 hanging in the hooks of the knitting needles 2. Thelatter thus act as foundation-thread stitching means. This is done by acorresponding descending motion of the bars 1, 3. In the finishedproduct the reversing points of the plush threads 8 connected with thefoundation hang in the sinker loops of the foundation. The latter canhave any kind of stitch structure in a warp knitted foundation.

On a machine for the production of double plush, as indicated in FIGS. 3to 6, the bar 3 is provided with knitting needles 11 instead of thepointed needles 4. The needles 11 have latches 11a. Both kinds ofneedles 2 and 11 act as foundation-thread stitching means, and cooperatein performing the plush-thread looping function. The two bars 1 and 3are arranged to work alternately. Associated with the knitting needles11 is a guide bar 12 for a second foundation thread 13. Bars 6, 12 arethe foundation-thread guiding means, while bar 7 again performs as theplush-thread guiding means. Besides, this machine has a second presserplate 14 in addition to the presser plate 9. The bar 7 for the plushthreads 8 is arranged between these two presser plates 9, 14. Thepresser plates coact with the afore-mentioned guiding means in bringingthe plush thread to the respective reciprocable knitting needles 2, 11where the foundationthread stitches are formed. The production of doubleplush is principally the same as that of single plush, only that the tworows of knitting needles 2, 11 each form a foundation, and that theplush threads 8 are tied ofi in both foundations.

FIG. 3 shows the laying over the left row of knitting needles 2, asviewed in the drawing, similarly to the manner indicated in FIG. 1. Heretoo, the foundation threads 5 and the plush threads 8 lie over thelatches 2a of the knitting needles 2. Subsequently the presser plate 9is lowered, as shown in FIG. 4, after which the loops of the previouslyformed foundation row are cast off together with the respectivereversing points of the plush threads 8 over the thread loops hanging inthe heads of the knitting needles 2.

The bar 3 with the knitting needles 11, together with the latches 11awhich were, up to now, in the bottom position, is now brought into topposition, after which the same cycle is'repeated on this machine side,but with the cooperation of knitting needles 11 and presser plate 14, asshown in FIGS. 5, 6.

The presser plates 9, 14 must thus be operated alternately, which iscaused by a cam or eccentric 15 on a main shaft 16 (FIG. 7). Rollerlevers 17, 18, which are secured on a shaft 19, abut on this main shaft16.

The shaft 19 carries a double lever 20 in the form of a balance beamwhich is rocked by the cam 15 acting on the roller levers 17, 18. Thepresser plates 9, 14 are suspended on arms 21, 22 which are pivotallymounted on shafts 23, 24. On these are provided arms 25 which areconnected with the balance beam-double lever 20 by rods 26, 27 and theyare reciprocated in timed sequence to produce the desired knittingoperation. For the adjustment of the stroke of the presser plates 9, 14the rods 26, 27 are variable in their lengths in known manner.

For the production of the above described goods we can also proceed bylaying the plush threads 8 together with the foundation material threads5 and 13 over the knitting needles for the formation of a new row, butso low that they arrive from the beginning at the loops 10 of thepreviously formed foundation row hanging on the knitting needles 2 and11 below the latches 2a and 11a. FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show the specialguide means for the plush threads 8 used for this purpose. Referring toFIG. 10, the thread guide means consists of an elongated needle or likemember 28 with a thread guide tube 29 for each plush thread 8. Under thetube 29 are provided two tongues 30, 31 between which the plush thread 8is guided to a distributing point 32. The tongues 30, 31 are so longthat the distributing point 32 is brought under the latches 2a of theknitting needles 2. In contrast to the foundation threads (not shown inFIGS. 8, 9), the plush threads 8 are thus laid from the beginningdirectly over the loops of the previously formed foundation hanging onthe knitting needles 2.

According to FIGS. 11, 12 the same guide bar 7 is provided for the plushthreads 8 as in FIGS. 3 to 6, but on the sides thereof there areprovided, in addition, two

spoon-shaped needles 33, 34 for each plush thread 8. These needles arepreferably provided on both sides with a pocket between which the plushthtreads 8 run. The same distributing point 32 is thus formed as withthe guide means by the tongues 30, 31 in FIG. 10. These needles 33, 34are also so arranged that the distributing point 32 is under the latches2a and 11a on the knitting needles 2 and when they are brought to theiruppermost position.

It will be understood that the needle members 28 and the spoon-shapedneedles 33, 34 of the last-described embodiments also perform theplush-thread guiding function, as has been described before with respectto the previous embodiments.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventionprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A process for producing plush fabric by the stitching of plushthreads into foundation threads on a warpknitting machine having aplurality of knitting positions each including at least afoundation-thread stitching means, a plush-thread looping means spacedtherefrom, and means for guiding the plush thread and at least afoundation thread, comprising the steps of guiding the plush thread anda foundation thread about said stitching means to form a first plushloop, guiding the plush thread about said looping means and back towardsaid stitching means to form a second plush loop, stitching thefoundation thread about said first plush loop so as to hold the plushthread in the stitch, and casting off the plush thread from saidstitching means together with the lastformed foundation thread stitch.

2. A process for producing simple plush fabric by the stitching of plushthreads into foundation threads on a warp-knitting machine having aplurality of knitting positions each including foundation-threadstitching means having a reciprocable knitting needle, plush-threadlooping means spaced from said stitching means and having a rcciprocablelooping needle, and means for guiding the plush thread and thefoundation thread, comprising the steps of guiding the plush thread andthe foundation thread about said knitting needle, guiding the plushthread I plush threads being directly brought to said previous course bymeans of elongated guide needles.

7. A process for the production of a double plush fabric, having twofoundations each including foundation about said looping needle and backtowards said knitting 5 warp threads and plush warp threadsinterconnecting said needle to form a looped plush thread ofpredetermined length, stitching the foundation thread about the plushthread so as to hold it in the stitch, and casting off the plush threadfrom said knitting needle together with the last-formedfoundation-thread stitch, so as to form a simple plush fabric.

3. A process for producing double plush fabric by the stitching of plushthreads into two courses of foundation threads on a warp-knittingmachine having a plurality of knitting positions each including twofoundationthread stitching means each having a reciprocable knittingneedle, and means for guiding said plush-thread and the foundationthreads, comprising the steps of guiding each foundation threadalternately about one of said knitting needles, guiding the plush threadalternately about said knitting needles, to form a looped plush threadof pre determined length, stitching each foundation thread alternatelyabout the plush thread so as to hold it in the respective stitches, andcasting off the plush thread alternately from one of said knittingneedles together with the last-formed respective foundation-threadstitches so as to form a double plush fabric.

4. A process for the production of a plush fabric having plush warpthreads and a foundation including foundation warp threads on a warpknitting machine having at each stitching position a guide bar for saidplush threads, a guide bar for said foundation threads and twovertically rcciprocable needle bars, at least one of said needle barsbeing a knitting needle bar having a knitting needle secured thereto andadapted to form stitches from said foundation threads, comprising thesteps of alternately applying said plush threads to each of said needlebars by means of said plush guide bar alone, said foundation guide barbeing closer to the side of said stitching position lodging said oneneedle bar than the other one of said needle bars, applying saidfoundation threads to said one needle bar, retracting the latter so asto form thereon stitches from said foundation threads, bringing saidplush threads, from both of said foundation and plush threads laidtogether over said one needle bar, to foundation stitches of apreviously formed course before the next formation of said foundationstitches, and subsequently casting off said plush threads from said oneneedle bar together with said previous foundation stitches, over thefoundation threads to be formed into the next stitches, whereby saidfoundation will hold said plush threads in said foundation stitchesWithout stitch formation of their own.

5. A process for the production of a plush fabric according to claim 4,wherein said plush threads for the formation of a new course are appliedto said one needle bar simultaneously with said foundation threads andin the same plane therewith, said plush threads being brought to saidprevious course by means of a presser plate be fore said previousfoundation stitches are cast off.

6. A process for the production of a plush fabric according to claim 4,wherein said plush threads for the formation of a new course are appliedto said one needle bar simultaneously with said foundation threads, saidfoundations which are adapted to be separated into two simple plushfabrics, on a Warp knitting machine having at each stitching position aguide bar for said plush threads, a guide bar for said foundationthreads of each of said foundations and two vertically reciprocableknitting needle b'ars having each a knitting needle secured thereto andbeing adapted to form stitches from said foundation threads, comprisingthe steps of alternately applying said plush threads to each of saidneedle bars by means of said plush guide bar alone, the latter beingplaced between said foundation guide bars, applying said foundationthreads independently to said needle bars, alternately retracting thelatter so as to form thereon respective stitches from said foundationthreads, bringing said plush threads, from pairs of said foundation andplush threads laid together over said needle bars, to respectivefoundation stitches of previously formed courses before the nextformation of said foundation stitches, and subsequently and alternatelycasting off said plush threads from said needle bars together with saidrespective previous foundation stitches, over the foundation threads tobe formed into the next stitches, whereby said foundations will holdsaid plush threads in said foundation stitches without stitch formationsof their own.

8. A process for the production of a double plush fabric according toclaim 7, wherein said plush threads for the formation of respective newcourses are applied to said needle bars simultaneously With therespective foundation threads and in the same planes therewith, saidplush threads being brought to said previous courses by means of twopresser plates, respectively interposed between said plush guide bar andeach of said foundation guide bars, before said previous foundationstitches are cast off.

9. A process for the production of a double plush fabric according toclaim 7, wherein said plush threads for the formation of respective newcourses are applied to said needle bars simultaneously with therespective foundation threads, said plush threads being directly broughtto said previous courses by means of elongated guide needles.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,924,649 Morton Aug. 29, 1933 2,557,482 Stolle et al. July 19, 19512,560,311 Stolle et al. July 10, 1951 2,891,396 MacCaifray June 23, 19592,907,191 MacCaffray Oct. 6, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 328,175 France Dec.17, 1903 OTHER REFERENCES Textbook Warp Knitting Technology, D. F.Paling, Harlequin Press, Manchester and London, 1952, pages 188, 191 and192,

1. A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING PLUSH FABRIC BY THE STITCHING OF PLUSHTHREADS INTO FOUNDATION THREADS ON A WARPKNITTING MACHINE HAVING APLURALITY OF KNITTING POSITIONS EACH INCLUDING AT LEAST AFOUNDATION-THREAD STITCHING MEANS, A PLUSH-THREAD LOOPING MEANS SPACEDTHEREFROM, AND MEANS FOR GUIDING THE PLUSH THREAD AND AT LEAST AFOUNDATION THREAD, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF GUIDING THE PLUSH THREAD ANDA FOUNDATION THREAD ABOUT SAID STITCHING MEANS TO FORM A FIRST PLUSHLOOP, GUIDING THE PLUSH THREAD ABOUT SAID LOOPING MEANS AND BACK TOWARDSAID STITCHING MEANS TO FORM A SECOND PLUSH LOOP, STITCHING THEFOUNDATION THREAD ABOUT SAID FIRST PLUSH LOOP SO AS TO HOLD THE PLUSHTHREAD IN THE STITCH, AND CASTING OFF THE PLUSH THREAD FROM SAIDSTITCHING MEANS TOGETHER WITH THE LASTFORMED FOUNDATION THREAD STITCH.